‘Cocoon them from COVID,’ Dr. Shahab says until vaccinations happen

In the last four days, Saskatchewan has reported fewer than 200 new daily cases of COVID-19.

It’s a mark that hasn’t been seen in a while but the province’s chief medical officer of health continues to urge caution.

“This is the first week where our numbers have consistently been below 200 so we really need to see a couple of weeks, at least, of a positive downward trend,” said Dr. Saqib Shahab.

During his interview with Gormley on Thursday, Shahab named a few key metrics that he tracks and said where the province stands in relation to them.

The seven-day average of daily new cases is currently at 13.2 per 100,000 people. Shahab said it would be “great” if the per capita figure was below 10.

Saskatchewan’s test-positive rate is at seven per cent but the top doctor would like to see it below five per cent.

Testing has fallen slightly, Shahab said, which is a problem because mild cases can be missed. The missed chance to break the chains of transmission results in creeping hospitalizations.

“So we do need to maintain a testing rate above 125 per 100,000,” he said.

For the foreseeable future, Shahab said people need to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.

“You do need to think very carefully about shielding yourself until you get vaccinated … go for curbside pickup, go for takeout. If you work, do everything you can to keep yourself COVID-free until you get vaccinated,” he said.

Shahab said people 50 and older have to be especially careful and others need to keep the most vulnerable in mind.

“We need to cocoon them from COVID until they get vaccinated. That is going to be essential,” he said.